Automatic lock slider for slide fasteners



p 1951 H. M. GROFF 2,569,051

AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Jan. 15, 1946 3 Sheet s-Sheet l 4o 43 H3z36 8 IN V EN TOR.

AT TOR NE Y5 HOWARD M. GROFF.

Sept. 25, 1951 H. M. GROFF 2,569,051

AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS I Filed Jan. 15, 1946 v3 Sheets-Sheei: 2

FIEJ

FIELQ INVENTOR. HOWARD M. GROFF 9O WMM ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 H. M. GROFF AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Jan. 1s, 1.946

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIEJZ \mxm y RR 5 EW mm m N MA w Patented Sept. 25, 1951 AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FOR SLID FASTENERS Howard M. Groff, Mount Joy, Pa., assignor to Conmar Products Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 15, 1946, Serial No. 641,282

This invention relates to slide fasteners, and

more particularly to automatic lock sliders for the same.

Almost all automatic lock sliders use a detent, the purpose of which is to engage between fastener elements and so lock the slider against undesired movement. One object of the present invention is to provide an automatic lock slider which does away with such a detent, and which avoids all the disadvantages accompanying the same. Accordingly, more specific objects are to provide a lock slider which avoids the ratcheting action of the prior constructions and is silent in action; and which wears better than prior constructions, the detent of which is susceptible to rapid wear on the fastener elements.

The invention makes use of a locking member between the front wing of the slider and the fastener stringers on which the slider is mounted. Either the lock, or the slider, is inclined to pro duce a wedging action. The locking member cooperates with the slider in such a manner that it isu'rged, whenever a locking action is to take place, toward and partly into the slider channel, consequently" clamping the fastener elements between itself'and the rear wing of the slider. In a preferred construction, the lock is provided with a wedge'arrang'ed to engage an inclined cam surface on the slider. If a force'is applied to the twostringers of'a'closed slide fastener, tending to" openfthe'fastener, the wedge slides on the cam and is jammed into locking engagement with the fastener elements.

"Another featurev of thisinvention is the use of resilient means to" ensure frictional engagement between the fastener elements and the look. This causes the'lock'jto tendto stay with the fastener and to move relativeto the slider. This in turn brings into play the camming action pre-' viously referred to.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects} and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the slide fastener and lock slider elements, and their relation one to the other as are "hereinafter'more particularly described in the following specifica tion. The specification is accompanied by draw ings, in which: Fig. 1' is a partially sectioned view of an automatic lock slider embodying features of -my invention; Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned plan view of the same;

Fig; 3 is a section taken approximately inthe plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1, with the pull and lock omittedg a 12 Claims. (Cl. 24205.14)

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken approximately'in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig; 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lock;

Fig. 6 shows a spring strip used in one form of'the invention;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in looking condition;

Fig. 8 is a partially sectioned elevation of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a partially sectioned elevation showing still another form of the invention, this section being located approximately in the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through a cap used in the slider of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan View of'the slider shown in Fig. 9, with the cap, lock and pull removed;

Fig. 12is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line l2l2 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is'a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the slider in locked condition.

Referring to the drawings, the "slider has flanged front and back wings joined by a neck to form a Y-shaped channel. .In all of the illustrated forms 'of the invention, the front wing has a sloping cam C, and the slider is provided with a lock having a wedge portion W, slidable along the cam C, and one or more ears E. projecting outwardly from the wedge portion'W (see Fig. 5). The slider is further provided with a handle or so-called pull P, which may be conventional, but which is slidable longitudinally of the slider.

For convenience of description, it will be assumed that the slide fastener is in vertical position, and is closed by pulling the slider upwardly, and is opened by pulling the slider downwardly. The arrangement is such that the pull bears againstthe ear E to release the look when the slider is pulled downwardly. On the other hand, 'the' pull bears against a part of the slider and not against the lock when the slider is pulled upwardly, thereby again releasing the lock because it lags back as the slider is moved up.

The illustrated 'lock sliders further include means M causing the stringers or fastener ele-v ments to normally press yieldably against the lock,

so that on attempted self-opening movement of the slider the wedge W moving'along cam C auto-1 matically causes the lock to jam the stringers or fastener elements against the back wing of the slider. The locking surface of the slider is preferably a smooth friction surface facing the stringers, as indicated at S.

Considering the several illustrated forms of slider in greater detail, they may have a cap or ceive the trunnions of the pull. The arrangement is such that the trunnions bear against the ears E when pulled downwardly, but. bear against'theabutments A when pulled upwardly, the slotsin the ears E being long enough to permit downward or unlocking movement ofthe 'wedge when the 1.

trunnions are bearing upwardly against the abut: ments.

Considering the first form of the invention ingreater detail, and referring to Figs. 1 through? of the drawings, the slider body consists of a front wing l8 and a rear wing 2% made by die casting, and riveted together by a rivet 22 forming an integral part of the front wing 18. The slider wings have flanges 24 and a neck or diamondshaped post 26. These together define a Y-shaped slider channel for the operating engagement of two slide fastener stringers, not shown.

The lock member I4, best shown in'Fig. 5, consists of a main portion 28 and two parallel plates 30 extending upwardly therefrom. The main portion 28 is shaped so as to terminate in an inclined wedge surface W between the plates 38. The plates 30 are slotted at 32 and recessed at 34. The slots 32 receive and'support thetrunnions 36 of the pull P.

The configuration of the housing H is best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The top wall 38 is supported by end walls "and 42, a middle wall 43, and side walls A. The recesses inthe look at 34 are dimensioned to slidabiy receive the side walls A. The middle wall 43 extends only part way down and terminates in the inclined'cam surface C, most clearly shown in Fig. 4. The front wing is apertured on either side of middle wall 43 to receive the ears E of the lock.

In the present form the resilient means M is a spring, the blank'of which is shown in Fig. 6. It is shown bent to U shape in the assembled slider structure (Fig. 1), the portion 44 being convexly formed and accommodated in a recess 46 in the rear wing 28 of the slider. 48 of the spring extends vertically through the slider channel; The portion 50 of the spring is narrower than the portion 44, and is provided with four projections 52. These are received in mating grooves 54 (see Fig. 5) in the lock, thus securing the spring to the lock for movement with it.

The parts are assembled as follows: The spring is bent to U shape and is fastened to the lock by pressing the projections 52 of the spring into the grooves 54. While the front and rear wings'of the slider are still separated, the lock together with the spring is applied to the front wing l8 with the ears 30 astride the cam wall 43 and the spring portion 50 between the cam C and wedge W. The two slider wings are riveted together, and the pull P is attached to the slider by bending the pull trunnions 36 into the slots 32. The last two assembly steps may be carried out in the reverse order, if desired. Finally the slider is mounted onto two fastener stringers, these being represented in the drawing by a single fastener element 56, shown in broken lines.

The operation of the slider is as follows: With the lock in the unlocked position shown in 1,

The central portion 4 the slide fastener can pass through the slider channel. The slide fastener elements are always in frictional engagement with the lock, due to the pressure exerted upon the fastener elements by the spring portion 44 projecting into the slider channel. However, this frictional resistance is easily overcome when the slider is moved in either direction by means of the pull l2. With the pull released, if a spreading force is applied to the stringers of the closed fastener, the slider tends tomove down the fastener, that is, to the right asviewed in Fig. 1. However, the lock tends to remain with the fastener elements, or in other :words, moves to the left relative to the slider, and thereby cammed into the slider channel as shown in Fig. '7. The fastener elements are "clamped between the surface S of the lock and surface of the slider rear wing 20, thus locking of the slider against movement. The locking action is released by using the slider pull in either direction. If the pull is used to move the slider in fastener opening direction (to the right as viewed in Fig. 7), the trunnions 36 engage the ears E and pull the lock from the position shown in Fig; 7 to the unlocked position shown in Fig. 1. If the pull is used to move the slider in fastener closing direction (to the left as viewed in Fig. 7), the trunnions 36 engage the abutment walls A of housing H, thus taking the slider along, whereas the lock is held behind by its frictional engagement with the slide fastener, and so is unlocked.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 8 is like that previously described in using a spring strip 68 lying 'along the back wing 62 of the slider, and preferably received in a recess 64. However, the spring is not El-shaped, and no attempt is made to cause the spring to move with the look. Instead-the end 66 of the spring is secured in the neck ofthe slider. The slider is a die cast slider of the riveted type, and the neck portion 68 is formed'wholly on the front wing 10. The spring portion t6 has an aperture through which the rivet 12 extends.

The modifification shown in Figs. 9 through 13 does not employ separate resilient means, but instead makes use of the springiness of deflected slide fastener stringers. The rear wing 14 of theslider is provided with a concavity 16 into which a portion of the fastener may be deflected, as shown in broken lines in Figs. 9 and 13. The recess 16 extends the full width of the slider, to receive the fastener elements, instead of being a narrow recess for a spring strip. The design of this'modification is such that the lock projects into the slider channel even in the unlocked con-' dition of the slider (in contrast with the first two modifications). The lock bends the fastener stringers, resulting in the desired frictional engagement between the slide fastener elements and the lock.

This modification is applicable to a coined slider of the spot-welded type, the wings 14 and 18' being welded at 80. In the previously discussed modifications the housing H was made integrally with the front slider wing. In the present case the housing is a separate piece 82, fastened to the front slider wing. The housing is shown separately in Fig. 10. The front slider wing, as is best shown in Fig. 11, has an aperture 84 over which a tongue 86 projects, at an angle asshowrr in Fig. 13. This tongue is formed integrally with the wing I8 of the slider, and is bent,

upwardly, therefrom. It acts as the cam C. There is also a locating lug 88.

The slider is assembled by first mounting the riveting is done are shown in Fig. 11 and are marked 92 After this, the lock is applied beneath the front wing with the ears E straddling the cam C, and the front and back Wings are thenwelded together at the neck. The pull P isthen added.

The operation of this modification is substantially the same as described above. v

.It is believed that the construction and op eration 'of my improved automatic lock slider, as well as the advantages thereof, will be ap parent from the foregoing detailed description. The lock member is devoid of a detent, thus avoiding rapid wear, and providing smooth and silent operation. The locking action is dependable because of the initial friction provided by the resilient means. The slider is immediately unlocked when moved by the pull.

It will be understood that although I have shown mating cam and wedge surfaces on the slider and lock, these are not essential. Either the slider alone or the lock alone may have an inclined surface, but mating inclined surfaces are preferable for greater strength and wear, and for stability in the position of the lock member. Also, while I have shown both a smooth lock surface, and resilient means, either of these features may be used alone with some advantage compared to the use of neither.

It will therefore be understood that while I have shown and described the invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims. For clarity, the claims refer to both the cam on the slider, and the wedge on the look, but as explained above, it is contemplated that the use of either the cam or the wedge, bearing on a nonmating surface, will come within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic lock slider for use with slide fastener stringers, said slider comprising front and back wings, a sloping cam on the front wing, a lock having a wedge movable on the cam and an ear projecting outwardly from the wedge, said cam and said wedge having approximately parallel surfaces of substantial length for mating cooperation with one another, a pull slidable longitudinally of the slider, said pull bearing against said ear to release the look when pulled downwardly, and bearing against the slider but 4 not the lock in order to release the lock when pulled upwardly, and means causing the stringers to normally yieldably press against the lock, whereby on attempted self-opening movement of the slider the wedge in cooperation with the cam automatically causes the lock to jam the stringers against the back wing of the slider.

2. An automatic lock slider for use with slide fastener stringers, said slider comprising flanged front and back wings joined by a neck to form a Y-shaped channel, a sloping cam on the front saidpivotbearingagainst said ear to release the lock when pulled downwardly, and bearing against the slider but not the lock in order-to release the lock when pulled upwardly, and means causing the stringers to normally yieldably press against the lock, whereby on attempted self-opening movement. of the slider the wedge in cooperation. with the cam automatically causes the lock to jam the stringers against the back wing of theslider.

3, An automatic lock slider for use with slide fastener stringers, said slider comprising front.

and back wings, a sloping cam on the front wing, a .lock having a wedge movable on the cam and. affpair of slotted collateral ears projecting outwardlyfromthe wedge on either side of the cam,. said cam and said wedge having-approximately.

parallel surfaces ofsubstantial length for mat-- ing cooperation withoneanother, a pull having, trunnions slidable,longitudinally of the slider the slots of the cars, a cap on the frontwing of. the slider housing the aforesaid cam andears the side walls of said cap being partially cut, away at their lowenends to receive the trun-- nions, the remaining upper portions of the side. walls acting as abutments, said trunnions bear-- ing on said .ears to release the look when pulled downwardly, and bearing on the abutments to release the look when pulled upwardly, and means causing the stringers to normally yieldably press against the lock, whereby upon attempted self-opening movement of the slider the cooperation of the wedge and the cam causes the stringers to be automatically wedged against the back wing of the slider.

4. An automatic lock slider for use with slide fastener stringers, said slider comprising flanged front and back Wings joined by a neck to form a Y-shaped channel, a sloping cam on the front wing, a lock having a smooth friction lock surface facing the stringers and a wedge movable on the cam and a pair of slotted collateral ears projecting outwardly from the wedge on either side of the cam, said cam and said wedge having approximately parallel surfaces of substantial length for mating cooperation with one another, a pull having trunnions slidable longitudinally of the slider in the slots of the ears, a cap on the front wing of the slider housing the aforesaid cam and ears, the side walls of said cap. being partially cut away at their lower ends to receive the trunnions, the remaining upper portions of the side walls acting as abutments, said trunnions. bearing on said ears to release the lock when. pulled downwardly, and bearing on the abutmentsv to release the lock when pulled upwardly, andv means causing the stringers to normally yieldably press against the lock, whereby upon attempted self-opening movement of the slider the cooperation of the wedge and the cam causes the stringers to be automatically wedged against the back wing of the slider.

5. A lock slider as defined in claim 1 in which the means causing stringers to normally yieldably press against the lock comprises a spring strip lying along the back win of the slider, said strip being bowed upwardly to bear against the stringers.

6. A lock slider as defined in claim 2 in which the means causing stringers to normally yieldably press against the lock comprises a spring strip lying along the back wing of the slider, said strip being received in a recess in the back wing of the slider and being bowed upwardly to bear against the stringers.

z. A lock sliciei 231s efined lncle1h3 1rr which the means causing. the stringers tm normally yieldebly' press againstbhe lock comprisesa; spr-ing strip bent to U-shape withone arnr of the U: lying between the cam and wedgemnd with the other arm I of the- U lyi'ng, along; the back wing ofthe slider; the latter am beingbowed uprwardly:

8. A look slider as deflned in cladm 3inV7hich the means causing the stringers to normally' yieldab1ypress againsfi the loci? comprises a spring strip bent to L-f-shape with one arm of the U pressed bet/ween the earsof the- 10016 and lyingbetween the camand= wedge andwitfi' the other armof the w lying ina recess-formedr-inthe back wingof the-slider; tfielhtter'arms being bowedupwardly; am theDase of the U lying within theneckof the 51mm the 'means causing' stringers to normally yield- 20;

ably press against the lock: comprises a; spring? str-ip' ly-ing a1ong-the-back wlng ofthvslider: one end of said str-ip= being: secured in the neck of the slider; andthe other end"- being bowed" upwardly' to bear against the stringers 10. A look" slideras deflhed ln claimflimwhieh the means causing stringers to normally yleldfablypress against the lock" comprises a spring strip lying" along theback'wing ofthe slider; one" end of said strip being" secured im the neck of the slider, and= the other" end being-r received? in" m recess lit-the back, wi'ng of the slid'er, and belhr bewed upwardly to bear agaihst the'strihgers; v

- I1 A leek slider ems-defined in-claim-2- iii which the means causing the strihgersto" normally y'ieldalily press against the lock comprises-a recess" ih the bottom wing of theslideropposite a d o'wn ward. projection ofthe lock so" dimensioned as tobend the stringers intothe recess.-

121 A lock slider as d'efi'n'ed in clhiin 4 irrwhleh' the meanscausing the stringers tonormally yieldably press against the lock comprisesarecess in tlle bottom' wihg of "the slider-opposltea dbw'n- Ward projectionof the lock so dimensibned as tm bend the str-ir'lgers into the recess; whereby the resultihg deffirmatlon of thestringe'rs c'aius'e's themto yieldelbly pressagainst" the lock.

' HOWARDM: GEOFF? REFERENCES GIT-EH Thefollbwing references are ofrecordi in: the; me of" this" patent? 4 UNITED: STATES PATENTS. 

